Velocipede



2 Sheets-Sheet ,1.

(No Model.)

W10". DAVIS. VELOGIPEDE.

Patented Jan. 23, 1894.

I INVENTOR.

fl-ATTORNEY WITNESSES:

2 Sheqt-Sheet- 2. W. G. DAVIS.

(No Model.)

VELOUIPEDE.

, No. 518,260. Patented Jan. 23, 1894.

nvvmro/e.

ATM/MEX.

WITNESSES UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE.

WVHITNEY C. DAVIS, OF WATERLOO, NEW YORK.

VELOCIPEDE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 513,260, dated January 23, 1894.

Application filed June 27,1892. Serial No. 438,096. (No model.)

. shall be diminished, thereby facilitating construction, avoiding wear, preventing the necessity of frequent repairs, and diminishing the noise and rattle of the machine while in use.

I also aim to make a spring frame which shall not only be strong, light and graceful in appearance, but also better adapted than heretofore to secure ease of ropulsion, and comfort to the rider, especially when obstructions are met.

There are also minor details of construction which I employ to aid my principal endeavors, all of which I will hereinafter describe and fully explain, and set forth in my respective claims, and all of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure 1, Sheet 1, is a side elevation of a velocipede embodying my improvements. Fig. 2, Sheet 1, is a like representation, in detail and enlarged, of the seat-post or pillowbracket, and of parts in connection therewith more or less directly. Fig. 3, Sheet 1, represents the parts shown in Fig. 2, viewed in the direction indicated by the arrow shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 4, Sheet 2, is a vertical cross section in the plane of the line w, w, of Fig. 1, shown also partly in full lines. Fig. 5, Sheet 2, is a vertical cross-section in the plane of the line y, 'y, of Fig. 4, viewed in the direction indicated by the arrow there shown, and Fig. 6 is a detail, in side elevation, showing the adj ustment and clamp-piece.

Like letters of reference indicate like parts.

In the drawings, the parts A A, which, by preference, are hollow'steel tubes, constitute the main frame-pieces or braces B is the front wheel, 0 the rear wheel, D the steering-head, E the front fork, F the handlebar, G the steering-rod, H the brake-shoe, I the brakeshoe rod, J the seat or saddle, K the seat-rod or post, L the seat-post block or bracket, M the forward mudguard, N the rear mudguard, O the treadle-shaft,Pthe treadle-crank, and Q the pedal. Some of these parts, as is well known, are duplicated in the same machine, and there are other parts composing the frame, regarded as a whole, to which other parts I will hereinafter refer. 1am aware that these features, considered generically, are old and constitute some of the main features in the construction of the class of vehicles to which my invention appertains. I may here state, however, that a front fork, made in the form shown, is new with me, so far as I am aware, and is the subject of an application for Letters-Patent by me heretofore made.

The features of construction which constitute my present invention, I will now proceed to describe with particularity.

A is a hollow sleeve, barrel, cross-brace,or cylinder through which the axle 0 passes freely, and is free from contact therewith, by preference; a, a are shoulders, and b, b, are screw-threads on the said sleeve.

0 is a volute or convolute spring, the inner or smaller coil of which rests against the shoulder a, it being understood that there are two of these springs G, as indicatedv in Fig. 4. This spring I clamp rigidly, to the sleeve A. The means employed for clamping the said spring to the said sleeve may be varied to some extent, but I prefer to employ the means which I will now describe.

D is a nut, screw-threaded to admit of its being run upon the outer or screw-threaded ends of the sleeve A, and formed or curved, as shown, to bear upon, or press, the inner coils of the spring 0 and hold it firmly and rigidly to the sleeve A. It will now be perceived that this rigid connection will result, when the said nut is screwed firmly against the said spring, in holding the latter in any position in which it may be placed.

E is a bearing-cup through which the axle 0 passes freely, and F F are bearing-balls arranged within the said cup, and retained there by means of a cone, G, run upon a screw-threaded portion, a, of the shaft 0. I desire to state, however, that the said cup is not absolutely essential, as only a slight modi- ICO fication in the form of the parts adjacent to the balls, and constituting, all together, what is commonly known as ball-bearings, would serve as well to retain the balls in their proper places.

H, is an adjustment-clamp, from which two pins or studs, d, d, extend, as is clearly shown in Figs. 4 and 8. This clamp also has two projecting arms or ears, e e, which are somewhat apart from each other, as shown. It is made of metal sufficiently flexible to permit the ears 6 e to be drawn more or less to ward each other, and for the purpose of drawing them in that direction, I employ a bolt, 6,

and a nut, c. It is in other respects circular in form, and adapted to fit upon the perimeter of the nut D, as is clearly indicated in Fig. 4. The frame-pieces in connection with the clamp H are tubular or recessed to receive the parts 61 d, as is clearly indicated in Fig. 4, and are also in connection, one with the head D and the other with the seat-rod bracket, and the upper frame-piece is in connection with the said bracket and head.

The upper rear frame-rod, R, at its lower end, is in connection with the rear wheelaxle, and with a sliding piece, I, on the upper frame-piece.

I is a stop-piece or collar on the upper frame-piece, and between this collar and said sliding-block, and also between the block and the said bracket, are light, open, spiral springs, f, as is clearlyshown in Fig. 2. These springs, serve as a cushion for the block I, and permit it to move yieldingly on the upper framepiece.-

To adjust the spring tension to correspond with the load, or the weight of the rider, I loosen the clamp 11, which then frees or releases the sleeve A and the parts in rigid connection therewith, thus permitting the tension of the springs C O to be altered for that purpose; and when this is doneItighten the clamp H upon its seat.

It will be perceived that I have greatly diminished the number of working joints heretofore found in vehicles of this class, if I have not entirely avoided what may be properly termed working joints; and hence, that wear and tear, rattling, squeaking, and frequent repairs are avoided, while at the same time the machine is light, durable, graceful in appearance, and comfortable and pleasant for the rider. I

It is to be understood, of course, that some of the parts already referred to by single letters of reference are duplicated. In this connection I would say that I deem it preferable to employ a yoke, M, (Fig. 1,) to which the rear mudguard is attached, and which connects the arms T T.

In adapting this machine to use for ladies, the top frame-piece A is omitted, and the other pieces A A may be regarded as practithat the springs C 0 should be clamped to a sleeve A as they may as well be secured to the rear part of the frame; neither is it essential, when such a sleeve is employed, that they should be clamped to its ends, as they may as well be secured to the central portion thereof. I do not, therefore, here intend to restrict myself to all the details of construction which I have shown and described, although I deem them preferable. I will also state that I would regard one volute or con- Volute spring'C, in connection with a fork in which the rear wheel-axle has a bearing, as an equivalent to the two rear springs referred to.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination, in a vehicle of the class hereinbefore referred to, having a spring frame, of a rear-frame-piece R, in connection at one end with the rear wheelaxle, and at the other with a horizontally sliding block I, mounted on an upper frame-piece in connection with the seat-bracket and steering-head, and arranged on said frame-piece forward of the seat-bracket; a stop or collar 1 also on the upper frame-piece and forward of said bracket, and a spring arranged between said block and stop, substantially as shown and.

described, and for the purposes specified.

2. The combination, in a vehicle of the class hereinbefore mentioned, having a spring frame, of the treadle-axle O; the sleeve A, through which the said axle passes freely; one or more convolute springs O C; the nut D, run on said sleeve; the clamp II run on said nut and the rear wheel-axle in operative connection with the said spring, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

3. The combination, in a vehicle of the class hereinbefore mentioned, having a spring frame, of one or more volute or convolute springs O C; the rear wheel-axle in operative connection with the said spring or springs; the treadle-axle a screw-threaded sleeve through which the said treadle-axle passes freely; the nut D run upon said sleeve; the clamp H on said nut, and the ball-bearings, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

Signed at Waterloo, in the county of Seneca and State of New York, this 23d day of June, A. D. 1892.

WHITNEY O. DAVIS.

Witnesses:

FRED L. MANNING, CLARENCE TEN EYOK. 

